THE University of Plymouth’s men’s first XV will be hoping to secure the BUCS Western Tier Two title on Wednesday when they host University of Exeter VI at Ivybridge’s Cross-in-Hand ground (2pm).
The Plymouth side, coached by Davy McGregor, go into the game knowing they need a bonus point win to secure the league crown and promotion ahead of the University of Bath IV.
“Bath have completed their fixtures and they have 44 points so we need the full five on Wednesday,” said Plymouth captain Freddie Fuller.
“If we win with a bonus point we win the league. Exeter are mid-table so it doesn’t really matter if we give any bonus points away.
“It would be massive if we did do it.
“I think we have a good chance as we are in a decent bit of form. We have won eight of our nine games, all with bonus points, but playing Exeter is always a tough game.
“With BUCS the fact that there are only six teams in your league it means every game is competitive. The difference between the best team in the league and the bottom isn’t that much. Every game is a challenge.
“But, hopefully, with a big crowd behind us at home, we can get the job done.”
He added: “It would mean so much. You only get so many opportunities in your career to win a league and to be able to do it with your uni team and the boys that you are with all the time would mean a lot.
“We have loads of lads in the team that are either in their first year or their last year.
“This will be my last BUCS game, which is the same for a lot of lads, so what a better way to end than to win a league.”
It is going to be a busy few days for the University of Plymouth team as on Monday they will play Marjon University in the annual varsity match at Brickfields.
“It is a really exciting week,” said Fuller, who plays his club rugby for Tavistock. “We have the chance to win the league and then varsity in the space of five days.
“To have these games back-to-back is massive and the lads are buzzing for them.
“But the main focus right now is obviously Wednesday. Varsity speaks for itself, in terms of getting up for it.
“However, the main focus all year is to get promoted and we have that chance on Wednesday.”